What is the Stay Local Pledge?
Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals Through Education Abroad
SDG13: Climate Action
Reduced carbon emissions
Student education on environmental impact of air travel
SDG4: Quality Education
Local learning opportunities
Enhanced understanding of local history and traditions
SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals
Sending institutions and host institutions collaborate to maximize participation and impact
SDG10: Reduced Inequalities
Social and economic inclusion of all students, including those who cannot afford personal travel
We support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The Idea
Penn State Education Abroad is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) through education abroad. The idea for Stay Local combines many different aspects of sustainability and incorporates several SDGs into the concept.
The basic idea was this: What if we incentivized semester-long education abroad students to stay in their host city rather than jet set on certain weekends? And how could we maximize the educational, cultural, and climate impact of these students staying local?
The Pledge
Education abroad students are invited to sign a pledge and commit to the following:
Stay local in host city/host community on designated weekends
Refrain from inviting guests to visit them in their host city on designated weekends
Explore the local community and/or participate in local cultural or service events
Option to attend virtual meet-and-greet with other Stay Local participants around the world
Opportunity to share ideas on how to continue advancing the UN SDGs
Partnerships & Local Engagement
U.S. sending institutions can implement a Stay Local initiative, but the inaugural Stay Local Weekend in spring 2023 demonstrated that partnering with the on-site host institution to offer specialized events on the designated weekends increases student interest and participation. Examples of local enagement activities that host institutions may plan are:
Free or reduced price tickets to local cultural events or sites
Neighborhood clean-up event
Discussions on sustainability in the local context
Local food celebration
Group train trip to neighboring community
Incentives
Financial incentives are not necessary, but they can help garner student interest as well as have a positive economic impact on students and the local community. These incentives might include:
Student mini grants to be used in host community
Free public transportation passes
Free long-distance train tickets
Free group meal in host community
Education and Impact
Aside from the positive environmental impact of avoid emissions from student travel on Stay Local Weekends, the organizing institution can implement strategies to advance Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). In all student communication and social media posts, the organizers can include educational materials and resources related to sustainability in all its forms. This way, even students who do not participate in Stay Local programming have access to sustainability information as it relates to education abroad. For example:
Carbon emission information from transportation sector
Carbon calculator for student use
UN Sustainable Development Goals introductory information
Articles on sustainability and international education
Information on local sustainability efforts and priorities
Growing the Initiative
An initiative like this has impact no matter how many institutions and students participate. But the impact is magnified each time a student learns about sustainability and the SDGs and considers how they - as an individual and as a collective group - can advance sustainable development during their time as a student and in their future careers.
Interested in joining the movement? Visit our resources and how to page to learn more! You can also register your institution as a participating partner!